Hearing Bob Davie talk about the football coaching job at New Mexico even in the same breath as his time at Notre Dame was difficult to fathom Tuesday as coaches in the Mountain West summarized their spring practice sessions on a teleconference call.

Davie has started the process of rebuilding one of the nation’s most downtrodden college football programs in his first coaching job since leaving Notre Dame 10 years ago. The Lobos were 1-11 a year ago in completing the tumultuous tenure of former coach Mike Locksley.

It was surprising to hear Davie say the Lobos’ job was “just what we were looking for.

“I went into this with my eyes completely wide open. It provides the opportunity to rebuild something starting now.”

Davie wasn’t prepared to find the roster depleted as much as it was.

“We had only eight offensive linemen in our spring practice,” Davie said. “I was a little shocked to find the numbers as low as they are.”

Conference alliance? Air Force coach Troy Calhoun addressed the issue of conference uncertainty facing members of the MW.